New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-21
INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL
DEFECTS OF THE MEASURE POINTED OUT
A yorK To BE TAKEN IN THE HOUSE fo-pA
TWO OBJECTIONABLE SECTIONS.
~ -,,rorApH TO THB IRIBuNE1


yorx tn RE TAKEN IN THE HOUSE To-DA1-ThH
TWO OBJECTIONABLE SECTIONS
t,y TELEGRAPH TO THs TRIBuNL'
u.sy,xcrox. Jan. 2O-1he day and evening "es-
:. ,ho House have been devoted to debate on the
In,.rs,.ts Commerce BILL Nearly every man WIN
,te nm either side confessed his inabitv 10 oons'ru'
N. meaning OF the provisions which are tne main 'u
;scts Of controversy In the afternoon session 'ons
.peecbes against the report OF the Conference WV
nttee were delivered by Long, OF Massachusets' ""'
TN OF Alabama and others, but it is not prooAoo
thev will affect the result. To TRIBUNE W.
spondent, Mr. Rec said that while he is s'ronsv cp
posed to the bill in its present form no ov'' ~.
II at speeches against it will be OF any %
tore that he ia not inclined TO speak, Inc ruin
10 ,hot enough men who are opposed to the
,n.osure from principle will vote Tor it under duress W
awe its advocates q roeho niaJoi''s "
he taken tomorrow morning.
Mr.. nbble of South Caroline. favored the recon-
ta, M the bill to the conference committee ior u,
,rnosa ~ having its defects corrected. ana eAiio
.ho onin;on that such q recommital wouid NOT On.
40. az ~. manage of the bill. But even snouu ~
,s.plt IN the defeat of tho measure ne co"'ei -
TIM, xoud be better than forCongless 70 enso 80. at
sucb mbguous Legislation. ne enee' tbo onstrnc
ant woul1 be TO throw ut0 the courts the cons.luo
.on NJ words hch should be construed py Congress
II would be some years before that luai'lsi .
tstion would be given. His cnie1 o"Jec,losh tho
,neasure WAS directed against what ne cohs'uercu o
dangerous powers which were cohiel'eu "Po" '"0
Commission. =, ,,s IL; o,nos;t,on IN
.hn I'LL and his determination to vote against u. he
xnressed the opinion that il Congress assumes controi
al ail the railroad corporate in the United States u
would all the capital o. ire rdirGaa rn
oress provided for the appointment OF the persons
were to consrue this law 1t would forcc railroad cap
ital into the political canvass IN order 10 secure Tue
election of a man who would bend his knee TO the
wishes of the railroad companies. Therefore he re-
oarded the bill dangerous exercise OF power ana
measure which, though 1t might Temporarily re h
the people in certain respects would ultimately hang
n milstone around their necks by whlcn they Wouiu
be drowned in the deep sea- lie opposed the IL aiso
MI Cucheon of Michigan, would vote tor the bull
Notwithstanding its defects and Notwithstanding We
fact that it attempted too much for first STEP Inc
present long and shcrt maui system was paseu on
sound business principles and was not discrnina-
tcn against the people and brought larger compeh-
satIon TO the farmers 81 the great W est. :.
Mr. Grosvcnor, OF Ohio, commented upon the diver
sy of opinion the Interpretation which should be
placed upon the provisions of the BILL The Govern
inent was about to 100 600 miles Of railroad and
10 turn them over TO authority whose jurisdiction
is not defined in the statute and who would be called
upon to con act which as uncertain as the
depth of the ocean, The bill was bundle OF incon-
grutes. An omnpotent power over the greatest IN,
terest in The country to be handed over to five
commissioners, one OF whose qualifications was that
they should know nothing about the subject II was
provided that no more than three members OF the
Commission shall be appointed from the same political
party How were the othcr two to he appointed
Was this Cause put in to enable the President and the
Senate to declare whether the genus Mugwump" was
sepaI ate political party, only parastcal growth
upor the body OF sOme other political party ,
Mr. CutcheOn suggested tnat II would De worm
something to find that out.
Mr. (;r5syenor. continuing said that be addressed
the Democrats, because now was a good opportunity
for them to protest against the grandest ost slgn
cant and most terrible stride that had ever been made
or suggested, in the dreams OF a centazationis
Mr. Rockwell OF Massachusetts, would vote Tor the
measure trusting that 1t defects would be remeded IN
the future. -,
Mr. Long, of Massachusetts, did not agree in the
wholesale denuncistion OF the bill lie believed that
many of it's provisions should become law. he only
di Guilty was in the fourth and nth sections. ana u
these sections were dropped there would be pract-
caliy no objection to the bill He wanted the report
sent back toconfeIence. -
Mr. Martin. Of Alabama. opposed the bill on the
ground that to pass 1t with the fourth section III II
would be to damlupthe resources OF Alabama ana Den
to her any future progress IN mining and manufacture
Mr.. Oates, of Alabama. made a LEGAL and consttu-
tional argument directed especially against the long
and short haul section opposed the cantralizng ten
dency of the measure and denounced the great powers
which conferred upon the Commission by which
1t could raise depress stocks IN Wall Street at It's
Mr. Findlav, of Maryland, criticised the long and
short haul feature; Mr. Warner. OF Ohio, expressed
his approx al OF it and Mr. Holman OF Indiana while
admitting hat it was open to criticism, heartily sup
The House then at $50 took recess until I3U, the
evening session TO 10 for further debate ON the con-
ference report 81,
There was a small attendance of members at the
evening session. $3.50 ..,
Mr. Morrow and Mr. Kenna of California, protested
against the enactment into law of the provisions OF the
long and short haul section as beng ini'ca 10 tue
interest OF the pc ople of the Pacific Coast
Mr.. ButterwOith, OF Ohio, opposed the bill because
IT was ambiguous, ecause 1t placed power in the
hands OF FIVE men which ought not to be lodged IN any
tribunal earth and because II would not cure the
lie hioh 20
Mr. Anderson of Kansas said that the railroad sys-
ten of the country under the control OF few men
who had the power land last yea exercised that
power OF collecting from the people OF the United
States 1856 600 600 two Orithree times as much
as the Government collected. These rnen had been
beyond any control exert their own eenerai cssed-
ness ~; and the question presented was whether
the Government should put itself by law between the
people and the rapacity Of the railroads.
Mr. PettbOne of Tennessee, denied that there was any
ambiguity in the long and short haul section declaring
that he would whip his :welve-yearod boy IL lie couo
not understand 1t. -, - 80
statute which controlled and limited the greed OF railroad
porations This bill gave something 70 remedy the
evil He regretted that his colleague Ar Weaver was
Iowa par excellence the friend OF the people,
but lhe gentlemans stock Of issues was be-
ton, upon which he had risen TO emincnce. failed
now; the silver question which he had worked 50
industriousy failed him and the temperance ques
ton which he had ridden hobby, taking all sides OF
to snit the exigences OF his settled by the
people Of his There nothing left to him now
su, the ana sn U% g
this Congress would settle that question and leave
him rider without hobby TO ride.
Further discussion continued Oh the BILL
COST OF COLLEC TING CUSTOMS DUTIES.
ESTIMATES FOR THE NEXT YEAR DETAILS FOR